Household electricity consumption across Great Britain is continuing to increase despite ongoing cost of living pressures, according to new analysis from Chameleon Technology, a UK smart energy technology company.
The study, based on data from around 23,000 households, found that average electricity consumption rose by 6.4% between March 2025 and March 2026, increasing from 789kWh to 839kWh per household. Over the same period, gas consumption increased by 3%.
Looking at longer-term trends, the analysis indicates that household electricity demand has increased by around 18% since 2023, while gas consumption has remained broadly unchanged.
According to Chameleon Technology, the findings suggest that increasing electrification of homes, including the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, alongside changing consumer behaviour, is contributing to rising electricity demand.
The figures coincide with the latest Ofgem energy price cap, which has increased the annual cost of a typical dual-fuel household to £1,862.
Electrification reshapes household energy use
The report suggests that growing electricity demand highlights the need for continued investment in electricity infrastructure, as well as greater access to tools that help households monitor and manage their energy consumption.
Kyle Brown, Chief Commercial Officer at Chameleon Technology, says, “Electricity demand isn’t slowing down; it’s shifting.
“As homes electrify, we’re seeing greater reliance on technologies like EV charging and electric heating, which are changing how and when electricity is used in the home.
“If this demand continues to grow – which it almost certainly will – we cannot keep putting off the wide-scale infrastructure reforms needed for the grid. We can’t focus on short-term affordability simply to push a complex problem down the line.
“At the same time, most households still don’t have clear visibility into how they’re using energy. As demand grows, that becomes a bigger issue if people are expected to manage costs effectively.
“Without better insight, households are making decisions in the dark. That’s why it’s so important to encourage households to engage with their in-home displays or energy apps. The data is there; it’s ready to be used.”
The company says appliance-level energy monitoring tools, including in-home displays, current transformer (CT) clamps, and energy monitoring apps, are becoming increasingly important as electricity accounts for a greater share of household energy use.
For more from Chameleon Technology, click here.